Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park has a healthy population of large and small animals. The park is home to many indigenous animals, although some tend to migrate depending on the season. The most common animals are elephants, giraffes, impalas, warthogs, zebras, wildebeests, pygmy mongooses and ostriches. But also lions, leopards and in rare cases even wild dogs are spotted here. In addition, the park is home to 550 bird species, and the Greater and Lesser Kudus as well as the Oryx antelope also roam the park.

Tarangire National Park, with its baobab-topped landscape, is one of the most scenic parks. Baobab trees tower over the savannah, and these ancient trees play an important role in the ecosystem, providing homes for bees, birds and bats. They also provide nutritious fruits and provide indirect water for animals such as elephants, especially in the drier months.

From June to September, a small migration takes place in the park, with thousands of wildebeest and zebra moving into the park in search of better grazing grounds. Elephants and other animals follow them and congregate along the Tarangire River, the only permanent source of water in the park. It is said that up to 2000 elephants are in the park during these months, some of which come from as far away as Amboseli National Park in Kenya.

Cats are also very present in the park: lions bask on the riverbanks, while leopards are sometimes spotted in the baobabs. Cheetahs are also found here, but usually prefer to stay hidden from unsuspecting prey.

African wild dogs have been spotted in the southern part of the park, and as the numbers of these efficient hunters are declining, it can be a real pleasure to watch them.

But it’s not just mammals you need to watch out for in Tarangire National Park, as the park is also home to 550 different bird species.

The most commonly seen birds include yellow-necked pigeons, red-billed hornbills, southern ground hornbills, lily-breasted rollers, ostriches, many species of birds of prey and several species of waterfowl, to name but a few.

The Tarangire River flows all year round and is an important lifeline for many of its inhabitants, especially during the dry months. The river flows into Lake Burunge, which lies to the northwest.

The south of the park is dominated by swampland, which is impassable in the rainy season but usually dries up completely in the dry season. The vegetation in the park is extremely diverse and includes open grassland, savannah, baobab trees and dense acacia bush, as well as palm trees and swamps with tall elephant grass in the south. Walking safaris are also offered in the southern part of the park.